Profile: Oliver Wilson

RYDER CUP EXPERIENCE

Debut

One of four rookies in Nick Faldo's European Team, Oliver Wilson has been one of The European Tour's most consistent players in 2008 and therefore a serial Ryder Cup qualification points gatherer. Picked up the bulk of his qualifying points with four second place finishes, at the South African Airways Open, the Volvo China Open, the Methorios Capital Italian Open and the BMW PGA Championship, where he came agonisingly close to winning his first European Tour title only to be pipped at the post after a sudden-death play-off with Ryder Cup team-mate Miguel Angel Jiménez at Wentworth Club. Second place did, however, guarantee €500,000 which propelled Wilson up the European Points List. Another top ten finish at The Barclays Scottish Open took the 28 year old to the brink of an automatic place in Team Europe, but he had to wait until the final event of the qualifying process–the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles–to cement his place in the Team. Wilson occupied the last automatic place in the Team going into Gleneagles, and he displayed the mental fortitude required to hold onto his place with a tied tenth finish.